Steam ironer



Dec. 19, 1961 K. l.. JOHNSTON 3,013,351

STEAM IRONER Filed June 9. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27, F/f r o o o o o o o l .f www m Zf/ @a www 1 j Dec. 19, 1961 K. L. JOHNSTON 3,013,351

STEAM IRONER Filed June 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Unit@ 3,013,351 Patented Dec. 1-9, 1961' 3,013,351 STEAM IRGNER Kenneth L. Johnston, 3617 Major Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed June 9, 1958, Ser. No. 740,714

17 Claims. (Cl. 38-14) This invention relates to steam ironers. More particularly, it relates to a steam ironer which is self contained in that the steam generating apparatus is disposed within the shoe of the ironer so that the latter may be moved about freely.

I'roners, as heretofore known, have generally been constructed so as to perform the ironing operation without the application of steam to the fabric. In other words, the clothes to be ironed are generally dampened prior to the ironing operation. To my knowledge however, there has been only one ironer which proposes to utilize steam in conjunction with the roll in order to obviate the need for prior dampening of the clothes. This ironer is disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 1,978,654, issued October 30, 1934 to H. Strachan. The ironer disclosed in this patent however, has the steam generated at a point remote from the ironer and introduced into the shoe at a central location intermediate the ends of the shoe. This particular ironing machine has never proved `commercially satisfactory, probably because the steam is introduced at a central point and will, as a result, be disseminated directly opposite that central point and will not be properly disseminated from the end portions of the shoe. In any event, it is Well established that there is a definite need for a steam ironer and that heretofore no one has proposed such an ironer which will operate in a commercially satisfactory manner.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved steam ironer which is simple and inexpensive in construction and operation.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved steam ironer wherein the steam generating apparatus is -contained within the ironer shoe assembly and is so arranged as to operate in a highly satisfactory and efficient manner.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved steam ironer so designed as to preclude flooding of the ironer at any point during the operation thereof and under any condition.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved steam ironer designed in a novel manner so as to transmit heat more rapidly to the point of application of water in order to more efficiently and, effectively generate steam without excessive cooling at the point of application of water.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved steam ironer -having novel and improved means for applying water to a heated surface for the generation of the steam necessary to accomplish the ironin-g operation.

Another object is to provide a steam ironer having a novel and improved shoe assembly so designed and constructed as to generate its own steam and to do so without danger of flooding of the machine.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved steam ironer shoe assembly so designed and constructed as to maintain the ironing surface of the shoe in an amply heated condition despite the fact that the steam is generated within the shoe assembly.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a steam ironer em- -bodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of my ironer on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view on a still larger scale taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front` elevational view of my ironer shoe assembly with portions thereof broken away to show the interior construction, all on a scale larger than that of FIG. 1 and smaller than that of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of my ironer shoe assembly on the same scale as that of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional View of my-ironer shoe assembly taken on the same scale as that of FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the valve elements utilized to feed water to the steam generator and taken on an enlarged scale along approximately line 7--7 of FIG. 3.

One embodiment of my invention may include as shown in FIGS. l-7, a base member 10 adapted to stand upon the iioor and support the ironer as shown. Mounted upon this base 10 in supported and elevated relation as shown in FIGS. 1-2 is a gear case 11 which is supported by a U-shaped support member 12 carried by the base 10 at the medial portions thereof. The gear casing 11 carries a motor 13 which drives the gears (not shown) within the gear case and which in turn drives the roll drive tube shaft within a tube 14a. Mounted upon the roll drive tube 14a for swingable movement relative thereto is the roll 15 which as shown is disposed above the ironer shoe assembly indicated generally by the letter A. A drive connection 16extends between the roll drive tube shaft 14 and the roll 15 so as to drive the roll 15 when the latter is moved to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2. The roll 15 may be moved to the broken line position by operation of the lever H. The construction heretofore described and indicated by numerals, with the exception of the ironer shoe assembly A, is old and well known in the art. A forming board 17 is also provided in the usual position for aid in guiding the material between the roll 15 and the shoe assembly A.

The shoe assembly A as best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is preferably formed of a front shoe element indicated generally by the nu-meral 18 and a rear shoe element indicated generally by the numeral 19. The front shoe element 13 as best shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a concavely shaped ironing surface 20 and with a lower side portion 21 and an upper side portion 22 adapted to be secured by screws such as 23 to the rear shoe element 19. The front shoe element 18 is provided with a plurality of steam escape apertures 24 which extend through the front shoe element and connect the hollow interior of the shoe assembly A, as shown in FIG. 6 with the atmosphere so that steam may escape from the interior of the shoe assembly and be applied to the fabric t0 be ironed immediately prior to engagement of the fabric by the roll 15. apertures Z4 are disposed immediately adjacent to and slightly-above the bight formed by the engagement of the ironing surface 26 by the roll 15 so that the steam which escapes therethrough will be applied to the fabric before it is ironed between the roll 15 andthe ironing surface 20.

The rear shoe element 19, as best shown in FIG. 6 is generally triangular in shape in cross section and is pro vided with a plurality of transversely extending partition members 25 which extend-between the rear shoe element 19 and the front shoe element 18 to divide the yhollow- Examination of FIG. 2 will show that these interior of the shoe assembly A into compartments which are spaced longitudinally of the assembly as best shown in FIG. 4. These partitions 25 are preferably formed integrally with the rear shoe element 19 and hence are formed of metal in view of the fact that each of the shoe elements 18 and 19 are formed of metal as is conventional in the construction of a shoe assembly. It will be noted that the rear shoe element has lower side portions 26 and upper side portions 27 which are shaped to mate with the side portions 21 and 22 respectively, of the front shoe element 18 in order to perfect a seal therebetween.

Formed within the back side of the rear shoe element 19 is a groove 28 which extends around the peripheral portions of the rear shoe element and receives therein a heating element 29. This heating element 29 provides the heat for the entire assembly A and heat therefrom is conducted to the front shoe 1S and to the steam generator as will be hereinafter described.

Also formed through the rear shoe element 19 are a plurality of passageways such as 30, one each of which extends into one of the compartments defined by the adjacent partitions 25. A conduit such as 31 extends through each of these passageways 30 and terminates inwardly of the inner wall surface of the rear shoe element 19 as best shown in FIG. 6 so that water may drip from the inner end thereof downwardly and drop upon the steam generator indicated generally by the letter G at a point spaced from the shoe element 19 and substantially cquidistantly from the points of engagement of the generator G with the rear shoe element 19. Each of these conduits 31 leads to a reservoir indicated generally by the letter R which as best shown in FIG. 2 is mounted rearwardly of the roll and in an elevated position so that the bottom thereof will be elevated relative to the conduits 31 and the point of discharge therefrom within the hollow interior of the shoe assembly A.

A copper gasket 32 extends around the peripheral por tions of the rear shoe element 19 and is positioned oetween these portions and the peripheral portions of the front shoe element 18 in order to more etectively transmit heat from the rear shoe element 19 to the front shoe element 18. The position of this gasket 32 can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 4 and 6.

The steam generator G is preferably formed from a finely divided metal mass which is also preferably formed into a plurality of pads such as 33. As shown, these pads 33 are made of a plurality of copper screens which are secured as shown in FIG. 6 to the inner surface of the walls of the rear shoe element 19 which define the compartments between the partitions 25. These pads 33 abut against the partitions so as to transmit heat therefrom to the point of application of water to the pad as quickly as possible and they also transmit the heat from all portions of the wall of the shoe element 19 to that point suiciently rapidly that no flooding of the interior of the rear shoe element 19 is possible. In other words, one reason why a commercially successful self contained steam generating shoe has not been heretofore known is because the shoe has been unable to transfer the heat sufficiently rapidly to the point of application of water to prevent flooding. In such shoes, as heretofore known, the application of water and the subsequent evaporation thereof absorbs the heat from the point of application quickly and failure of the material from which the shoe has been constructed to transfer the heat to that point quickly has resulted in flooding of the unit. I have found that by utilizing copper screen pads and dripping the water thereon at a point remote from the wall of the rear shoe element 19, it is possible to transfer the heat to the point of application sufficiently quickly to regenerate it to the necessary temperature to insure continued formation of steam at that point. The formation of steam and the transfer of heat at this point is insured through the use of the transversely extending partitions 25 which aid in insuring that sul'licient heat will be moved to the point of application quickly. It should be noted that since the heating element 29 extends around the compartments at each end of the assembly A, these compartments will be provided with more heat than the other compartments and therefore the rate of drip permitted from the inner end of the conduit 31 in each of these compartments may be greater than the rate of drip permitted in the other compartments.

The reservoir R is preferably formed of a tank 34 with a plurality of outlet stems 35 one each of which is connected to one of the conduits 31. The tank 34 is lled with water and the flow through each of these outlet stems 35 is controlled by a unique valve mechanism best shown in FIG. 7 and a bar arrangement for opening and closing the valves. Each of the valve members as shown in FIG. 7 is provided with a valve scat 36 and a rod 37 having a tapered valve surface 38 which engages the valve seat 36. The lower end portion 37a of the rod 37 is reduced and cylindrical in shape to guide the rod in vertical movement and reduce the space occupied by water between the valve seat 36 and plug 39. A set screw type of plug 39 having a tapered surface 39a is disposed below the valve seat 36 to regulate the size of the orifice through which the water may pass and thereby control the rate of drip of water through the conduits 31. It will be noted that the rod 37 is siidable within the hollow tube 40 which is provided with apertures 40a adjacent its lower end to permit the water to flow thereinto. An upper hole 46!) is provided to permit air to escape.

Each of the rods 37 extends upwardly beyond the upper end of the hollow tubes 40 and is connected to the remaining rods 37 by a transversely extending bar 41. This bar 41 is held in position by a transverse pin 42, a spring 43 and a lower transverse pin 44, on each of the rods 37. At the end of the bar 41 there is a vertically extending control rod 45 which carries a bushing 46 and a pin 47 disposed above the bar 41. This rod 45 extends downwardly through the bar 41 and a hollow tube 48 which extends downwardly along the outside of the tank 34 to a point therebelow as best shown in FIG. 3. The tank 34 and the bar 41 is pro vided with such a rod 45, bushing 46, pin 47 and tube 4S at each of their ends as shown in FIG. 3. The lower ends of the rods 45 are connected by a second transversely extending bar 49. This bar 49 is controlled by a pressure arm 50 which as best shown in FIG. 2 extends thereacross and is connected at one end with the roll drive tube shaft 14 so that when the roll drive tube 14a is rotated to move roll 15 to an elevated position the bar 49 `will be depressed and will be released when the roll is moved into ironing position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

"Since the springs 43 constantly urge the rods 37 t0- ward closed position as shown in FIG. 7, the valves connecting the conduits 31 with the interior of the reservoir R are in closed position when the roll 15 is elevated, When the roll 1S is depressed to ironing position, the pressure arm 50 will be elevated and the springs 51 will force the bar 41 and each of the rods 37 up- Wardly to thereby open the valves and permit the water to pass into the conduits 31 and drip from the free ends thereof upon the pads 33 within the hollow interior of the shoe assembly A. It will be noted that the lower ends of the springs 51 are positioned by ring members 52 each of which is provided with a set screw 53 whereby compression on the spring 51 may be adjusted.

Each of the shoe elements 1S and 19 is provided with a thermostat which is connected in series with the other to control the heating element 29 The thermostat 54 of the front shoe element is set at approximately 240 F., and the thermostat 55 which is secured to the rear shoe element 19 is set at approximately 500 F. It is important that the two thermostats be connected in series so that when the front shoe 18, while steam is not being generated, has its temperature elevated to a temperature exceeding approximately 240 F., it will cause the source of electric current to the heating element 29 to be cut oit and thereby prevent excessive heating of the front shoe 18. The thermostat 55 connected to the rear shoe element 19, lof course, prevents the rear shoe element from reaching an excessive temperature when the roll is not in ironing position and hence there is no formation of steam.

In the event it is desirous to operate my steam ironer as a dry ironer, this may be accomplished by tightening the Wing nut 56 which is carried by bolt 57 to maintain the bar 41 in depressed position. This holds each of the valves in closed position and prevents water from reaching the generator.

One advantage of my self contained steam ironer is that it may be operated off an ordinary 110-120 volt service. My steam ironer has electric current requirements which do not exceed 15 watts. This means that my steam ironer may be moved from place to place within the home and can be readily utilized at any desired location where there is a conventional 11G-120 volt service.

In use the ironer is plugged into a proper source of electric current in the conventional manner and the clothes to be iro-ned are placed upon the forming board 17 preparatory to ironing the same. The roll 15 is then brought down into ironing position by movement of the lever H in the conventional manner whereupon the pressure arm 50 will be lifted and the springs 51 will lift the bars 49 and 41, thereby causing the rods 37 to be raised and permit water to pass downwardly through the outlet stems 35 into the conduits 31 and drip olf the free end of the conduit 31 as shown in FIG. 6. As the water drips upon the pad 33 it is immediately vaporized and passes upwardly between the rear shoe element 19 and the front shoe element 18 and outwardly through the apertures 24 and is applied to the cloth fabric to be ironed immediately before it is engaged by the roll 15. The vaporization of the water into steam, of course, absorbs heat from the coppery screening from which the pads 33 are made but because of the high coefficient of heat conductivity of the copper material, additional heat is transferred very quickly to the point at which the water drips upon the pad 33, from the partitions 25 and the walls of the rear shoe element 19. As a result, the point of application of water is quickly rejuvenated insofar as temperature is concerned with the result that the next drop of water will be immediately vaporized as it engages the pad 33. The rapid transfer of heat to the point of application and the consequent rapid rejuvenation of the generator at the point of application of water precludes the possibility of flooding of the shoe assembly. It will be noted that steam is generated in each of the compartments defined by the partitions 25 so that steam will be forced outwardly through the apertures 24 along the entire length of the shoe assembly A. It will also be noted that the inner end of the conduit 31 is positioned so that the drops of water will strike the pads 33 at a central point of the pad 33 relative to a plane extending cross-sectionally of the asser bly A.

Because the end compartments of the assembly A are surrounded on three sides by the heating element 29, the rate of flow of water through the conduit 31 is greater than the rate of ow to the more centrally disposed compartments. As a result, there is more steam produced in the end compartments than in the more centrally disposed compartments and hence an ample supply of steam is provided at the end portions of the ironing shoe.

It will, of course, be understood that Various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A steam ironer shoe assembly comprising, an elongated metal front shoe element having a concavely shaped ironing surface, with steam escape apertures formed therein and adapted to be engaged by an ironer roll during ironing operations, an elongated metal rear shoe eilement disposed behind said front shoe element and secured thereto in heat exchange relationship and cooperatively defining therewith a hollow interior therebetween, said rear shoe element having a heating element applied thereto to heat the same, a finely `divided metal steamgenerating pad disposed within said hollow interior and arranged in heat-exchange relationship with said rearrshoe element, and means for applying water to said pad at a central point thereof in controlled quantities as desired whereby steam will be generated by said pad and escape through said apertures of said front shoe during the ironing operation.

2. A steam ironer shoe assembly comprising, an elongated metal front shoe element having a concavely shaped ironing surface adapted to be engaged by an ironer roll during ironing operations` to iron cloth `fab-ries therebetween, an elongated metal rear shoe element disposed behind said front shoe element and secured thereto in heat-exchange relationship and cooperatively defining therewith a hollow interior therebetween, said front shoe element having steam escape apertures formed in its ironingsurface and bringing said hollow interior into fiuid communication with the atmosphere, said rear shoe element having a heating element applied thereto to heat the same, a finely divided metal steam-generator element disposed Within said hollow interior and arranged in 'heatexchange relationship with said rear shoe element, and mechanism for applying water in controlled quantities as desired to said generator element at a point remotely disposed relative to said rear shoe element whereby steam will be ygenerated by said generator and will escape through said apertures of said front shoe during the ironing operation.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said generator element is comprised of layers of screen formed of material having a high coecient of heat conductivity.

`4. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said mechanism includes means for controllably causing water to drip upon saidsteam-generator element at said centrally disposed point.

' 5. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein one of said shoe elements has a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending metal partitions extending across the hollow interior between said elements and transferring heat to said steam-generator element, the latter being disposed between said partitions.

6. The structure defined in claim 2, a driven roll mounted above said front shoe element for cooperative engagement of the ironing surface of said front shoe element and forming a bight therebetween adjacent the upper portion of said front shoe element, said steam escape apertures in said front shoe element terminating immediately above the blight between said roll and said front shoe element.

7. The structure defined in claim 2, wherein said steam generator element is comprised of a pad made of Ia plurality of layers of copper screening secured to said rear shoe element.

8. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said steam generator element is comprised of a pad made of a plurality of layers of copper screening secured to said rear shoe element, the major portion of said pad being in spaced relation to said front shoe element.

9. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said rear shoe element has a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending metal partitions extending across the hollow interior between said elements and dividing said interior into separate compartments and wherein said steam generator element is comprised of a plurality of layers of metal screening, disposed within each of said compartments and secured to said rear shoe element, said layers of metal screening being disposed in heat-exchange relationship with their adjacent partitions and with said rear shoe element whereby steam will be generated when water is caused to drip thereupon.

10. The structure delined in claim 2, and a pair of thermostats one each of which is connected to one of said shoe elements, said thermostats being connected to each other in series, -the thermostat connected to said front shoe element being set at approximately 240 F. and the thermostat connected to said rear shoe element being set at approximately 500 F.

11. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said steam generator element has side edges engaging said rear shoe element and said water applying mechanism includes a conduit extending into the interior of said assembly and terminating in spaced relation to said steam generator element in position to apply water thereupon at a point disposed substantially equidistantly from where the side edges of said steam generator element engages said rear shoe element.

12. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein the rate of application of water by said mechanism is greater adjacent the end portions of said shoe elements than it is adjacent their intermediate portions.

13. The structure defined in claim 2 and a copper gasket disposed between the peripheral portions of said shoe elements and transmitting heat therebetween.

14. A steam ironer comprising, a frame, a heated shoe assembly xedly mounted on said frame and having a concavely shaped exterior ironing surface and a hollow interior defined by spaced front and rear shoe elements and having steam escape apertures extending between said hollow interior and said surface which provide fluid communication between said interior and the atmosphere, a driven roll above said assembly pivotally mounted on said frame for swinging movement into and out of cooperative engagement with said ironing surface to permit ironing of cloth, fabrics therebetween, and a steam generator disposed within the hollow interior of said assembly to cause steam to pass outwardly through said apertures during ironing operations.

15. The structure defined in claim 14 wherein said steam generator is comprised of iinely divided metal arranged in heat-exchange relationship with said assembly within the interior thereof, and means for controllably 8 i applying water to said metal at a point disposed centrally relative to the points of heat-exchange between said metal and said assembly.

16. The structure defined in claim 14, wherein said steam generator is comprised of a plurality of pads made of copper screening disposed in heat-exchange relationship with said assembly within the interior thereof, and mechanism connected with said roll for dripping water upon said pads only while said roll engages said ironing surface and at a point spaced from the points of heatexchange between said pads and said assembly.

17. A steam ironer comprising a frame, a heated shoe assembly fixedly mounted on said frame and having a concavely shaped exterior ironing surface and a hollow interior defined by elongate spaced front and rear shoe elements, a plurality of steam escape apertures formed in said front shoe element and extending between the hollow interior and said surface, said escape apertures being arranged in longitudinal alignment along a peripheral edge portion of said shoe assembly and providing tiuid communication between said interior and the atmosphere, a driven roll positioned above said assembly and pivotally mounted on said frame for swinging movement into and out of cooperative engagement with said ironing surface to permit ironing of cloth fabrics therebetween, said roll when moved into cooperative engagement with said ironing surface being spaced from said apertures, a steam generator comprised of a plurality of layers of metal screen secured to said rear shoe element in heat exchange relationship with said assembly within the interior thereof, and a mechanism connected with said roll for dripping water upon the screen only while said roll engages said ironing surface and at a point spaced from the points of heat-exchange between said screen and said assembly.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,551,149 Hadaway Aug. 25, 1925 1,978,654 Strachan Oct. 30, 1934 2,267,245 Maxant Dee. 23, 1941 2,288,778 Bradley July 7, 1942 2,396,164 Dyer Mar. 5, 1946 2,606,272 Platt Aug. 5, 1952 2,792,652 Dawson May 21, 1957 

